The Giants had a plan when they released safety Will Hill following his third suspension in three years. It began with reinserting Stevie Brown into a starting role and utilizing offseason signing Quintin Demps as their third safety.

At least that's the way it seems right now heading into training camp. The Giants envision the veteran Demps as the third piece in the three-safety sets defensive coordinator Perry Fewell likes to employ.

"Having Stevie, having Antrel [Rolle], having Quintin Demps, it's going to be very important for all three of those guys to work together and get that chemistry developed as Deon [Grant], Antrel and Kenny [Phillips] had before," secondary coach/safeties David Merritt said last week.

Notice that Merritt mentioned Demps, not second-year safety Cooper Taylor, in that role, even though the Giants have spoken highly of Taylor this offseason. Why? What is it about Demps that the Giants believe makes him an ideal candidate to play alongside Rolle and Brown in the specialized formation?

Those skills could come in handy when the Giants are in their three-safety looks this season, particularly when they have to face tight ends like Detroit's Eric Ebron, Dallas' Jason Witten or San Francisco's Vernon Davis. Demps (5-11, 208) is known as a more of a natural cover safety. Taylor (6-4, 228) is built more like a linebacker.

Demps, 28, is open to anything. After several years of looking for a home, he's just hoping for playing time in any capacity.

"Anytime I can get on the field more, it's a good look," he said last month. "So I like [the Giants' three-safety look] a lot."

Given his preference, Demps would like an opportunity to play closer to the line of scrimmage. With the Eagles, Texans and Chiefs, he's been used mostly as a center fielder.

The Giants are, at the very least, open to the idea, most likely in their three-safety look.

"One of the things he told me when he first arrived here was, 'Coach, I want to be down near the box,'" Merritt said. "When he said that, I said, 'You know what? I'm going to give you all the tools to hopefully be successful down around the box.'"

Demps has never been much of a run-stuffer. Pro Football Focus graded him at -3.3 last season in that area.

But the Giants aren't worried that he isn't physical enough to stick in the box. They're giving Demps a look as their third safety near the line of scrimmage, which Grant did well during his two seasons with the Giants, including on their Super Bowl run in 2012.

"Now, [Demps is] down close to the box and he's learning the linebacker aspect," Merritt said. "He doesn't have to prove that aspect to me. I know he's physical enough."

It's part of the reason the Giants felt comfortable enough dumping Hill this offseason. Demps is in their plans.